Full-time role for GB Plastics’ first apprentice

Paul Woodhead, the first apprentice taken on by family business and specialist supplier of low maintenance building products, GB Plastics, is now a full-time member of the team at the company’s Rugeley branch and head office.
 

He has been taken on full-time as Branch Assistant after working as an Apprentice Branch Assistant for 12-months, and completing his NVQ Level 2 in Warehousing and Storage.
 

Paul is one of a growing band of apprentices working at GB Plastics’ six-branch network across the Midlands, with another apprentice shortly to finish their initial 12 months, another splitting her time between college and working, a fourth apprentice six months into his initial 12 months, and plans to recruit at least one more apprentice this year.
 

As well as offering him the full-time role, GB Plastics handed Paul a £100 bonus for completing his NVQ Level 2.
 

He will now continue with his training and development through continuous in-house training, supplier and product-specific training, as well as maintain his studies with an NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service.
 

“We are thrilled that our apprenticeship programme is working so well for us all, and to be able to offer Paul a full-time role at our Rugeley branch,” comments GB Plastics’ Director, Alan Sutherland.
 

“All businesses have a great opportunity to train and model the next generation of business owners and future employers. At one time, the GB Plastics team were unsure of our potential role and responsibilities for training the younger generation. It was a particular challenge for us as an independent specialist builders merchant, with no fixed training scheme in place; we don’t make or install anything so we didn’t feel that we were the type of business that should or even could have apprentices.
 

“However, in practice the apprenticeship programme and route is proving to be excellent, and a win-win for both the business and the next generation of employees.”